Date: October 17, Graduating Class Sculpture Development Permit. Title of Sculpture: When Women Rise

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Toby Timothy Lamb
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1 Date: October 17, 2013 Re: 2013 Graduating Class Sculpture Development Permit Title of Sculpture: When Women Rise Artist: Mehrdad Rahbar Introduction The 2013 Graduating Class is requesting development permit approval for the installation of a community art level sculpture to be installed in Marine Drive Courtyard. Today, more than ever, art can be an effective and peaceful instrument to combat war, inequality, injustice and prejudice. This proposal is for a sculpture that pays tribute to the women of the world in their struggle for equality, respect and freedom. This installation will have a landmark and symbolic quality due to its timeline and theme. University of British Columbia is the ideal location for such an installation as it is emerging as one of the most important institutions in North America and the world. This public art piece is intended to become a place of meeting and congregation for thousands of students and the public at large. Description of the proposed artwork. A group of five abstract female figures, representing each continent form a circle and hold a globe, appeared as a cage. Inside the globe is a captured dove, trying to fly to freedom. This art piece reflects the struggle, endurance, determination, dreams, unity and hopes of women for equality, respect and freedom around the globe. I believe any movement for freedom and equality should concern all members of our planet. The struggle of one people is the struggle of all peoples regardless of gender, race, and faith. In summer of 2009 the Iranian women demonstrated this struggle as a member of the global community. The world in unison marched with them, which later triggered the Arab Spring. More recently, the Pakistani teen activist, Malala Yousafzai triumphed over a horrific assassination attempt, and continues to inspire the world with her unending fight for education and rights for girls and women. This is not solely about women in the Middle East but about the suffering and rising of all women around the globe. Forms, symbolism and harmony The circle was selected as a metaphor to bond the women together as the primary form of unity, and as a geometric order for universal unity that has existed in the development of all human cultures throughout the history. The Circle is also an analogous form to humans and their environment and appears complete at all times. This geometrical form signifies multiplicity, endurance and ultimately victory for existence and a cause. Design and installation team The sculpture will be designed and fabricated by the proponent, Mehrdad R. Rahbar, in collaboration with IE Creative Studio, Vancouver. Medium The five figures are cut from 12mm thick copper plated steel and the globe is sliced from 10mm thick bronze bars and tubes. Both metals are symbolically interwoven with antiquity, human civilization and endurance and they change gracefully in textures and appearance over time. The sculpture colours will also change over time by natural oxidization. The dove will be made with blown glass technique. 1 of 4

Size Five figures, each 2.1m high The Globe 1.8m diameter The Dove 30cm in volume Weight 5 figures at70 kg for the total weight of 350kg The Globe 100 110 kg. The Dove 500g.

2 Size Five figures, each 2.1m high The Globe 1.8m diameter The Dove 30cm in volume Weight 5 figures at70 kg for the total weight of 350kg The Globe kg. The Dove 500g. Medium The figures are cut from 12mm thick copper plated steel Installation Method All 5 figures and globe will be transported and installed by a crane truck The 5 figures will be shop welded to a copper base plate. The base sculpture will be fastened to the concrete platform by using Hilti bolting system. The entire structure and its installation will be reviewed and approved by a P.eng. Duration of fabrication and installation Approximately 6 months from the date of Development Permit approval Maintenance The sculpture will requires minimal maintenance throughout its life. A maintenance agreement will be submitted as an addendum. Plaque Inscription 2 of 4

Location of work installation Marine Drive Residents was chosen by the 2013 Graduating Class, Campus Planning, and the Artist.

Furthermore, the Marine Drive Residents was selected as the placement of the sculpture due to the positive influence it may have on future

Since this sculpture carries a strong message of equality and respect for women, we felt this location was ideal due to its high

3 Location of work installation Marine Drive Residents was chosen by the 2013 Graduating Class, Campus Planning, and the Artist., The space already has a platform meant for art, and it is situated in an area where future gatherings would be ergonomically supported. Furthermore, the Marine Drive Residents was selected as the placement of the sculpture due to the positive influence it may have on future generations of students. A number of sites were examined for the placement of this sculpture. Since this sculpture carries a strong message of equality and respect for women, we felt this location was ideal due to its high visibility and site openness. It will provide optimum exposure to empower students and engage them in constructive dialogue on the subject gender equality. Location for the installation Concrete podium 3 of 4

4 Preliminary sketches Preliminary model Preliminary sketches Preliminary sketch 4 of 4

5 ARTIST S PROFILE Mehrdad Robert Rahbar s Biography Mehrdad was born in Iran and moved to Montreal in He studied architecture and earned a Bachelor and Master degree in architecture from McGill University. In 1996 Mehrdad moved to Vancouver and has since been principal of a West Vancouver based design and planning company. Mehrdad started sketching and painting at a young age, and found painting as a suitable visual medium to express his inner feelings about people, conditions and moments that he encounters every day. His paintings are inspired by Surrealist and Cubist paintings as well as the Deconstructivist architectural movement of the 20 th century. Mehrdad uses various media in his paintings, such as paper, canvas, acrylic, oil, color pencils, water color, pastel and ink. Most of these works are derive from collection of his own and others writings. More recently he has begun working metals to create sculptures and public art objects. Using a modern twist of Persian calligraphy, Mehrdad embeds the written words into most of his paintings and sculptures. I believe artists have a great responsibility to depict and communicate our human sufferings, happiness, triumph, deficiencies and even shortcomings to others to promote love, peace and humanity says Mehrdad. Professional and Artistic Experience Principal of Vernacular Design Inc., a West Vancouver based architectural and planning firm since Hold a Bachelor and Masters degree in architecture from McGill University Designed both the building and the public artwork at 2168 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, 2009 Designed both buildings and public artwork of a townhouse project at 241 West 5 th St., North Vancouver, 2009 Painting Exhibitions Dec. 12 to 22, 2009, Vancouver Public Library Dec. 28, 2009 to January 18, 2010 Café for Contemporary Art, North Vancouver Mar. 21 to Apr. 21, 2010 group exhibition at Café for Contemporary Art, North Vancouver 5 of 4

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